Helen Hutcheson Wilcox, 32, disappeared from her family’s grocery store in Jeff Davis County, Georgia, on January 22, 1971. Her husband, Homer Wilcox, reported the store unattended; the county sheriff had been in the store about an hour before she was reported missing. Initial searches turned up no sign of her and the community organized search parties.

In March 1971 a prisoner in Appling County, William Pierce, told the Appling County sheriff he had information about the missing woman. Pierce was interviewed, and after initially being evasive he confessed to robbing the grocery store, abducting Helen Wilcox, killing her when she resisted, and leading authorities to where he had left her body. He was tried, convicted of her murder and received a life sentence.

Anyone who knew Helen, worked at or visited the store, or remembers events in Jeff Davis County around January 1971 is asked to share information that could add context to the case.